Cleveland Sports History Archive

Today in Cleveland Sports History: 2.9

Jason Kesner
Published: February 9, 2010Posted in: Cleveland Sports History, NewsTags:

On February 9th 1997, Cleveland hosted the NBA All-Star game in which the East defeated the West 132-120. The game was the 47th All-Star contest and celebrated the 50th year anniversary of the National Basketball Association.

The contest was hosted in the Gund Arena and the MVP of the game was awarded to Glen Rice of the Charlotte Hornets. Rice scored 26 points while playing only 25 minutes. Rice broke the record of 24 points in a half a he surpassed the previous mark of 23, set by Wilt Chamberlain and Tom Chambers. Michael Jordan became the first player to score a triple double by posting 14 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

The most memorable moment for many spectators at attendance was during halftime in which there was a presentation of the 50 greatest NBA players to step on the hardwood.

The Gund Arena also hosted the Slam Dunk competition that same weekend. Kobe Bryant out shined Chris Carr to win his first Slam Dunk title.

Probably the most memorable moment of the game was during halftime in which there was a presentation of the 50 greatest NBA players to step on the hardwood.

Notable Birthday: Vic Wertz – 1925

Wertz was Major league first basemen and outfielder for 17 years. The four time all star only played for the Cleveland Indians for 4 seasons (1954-1961).

He finished in the top 15 in MVP voting four times and hit a career high 32 homeruns in 1956. The outfielder/first basemen finished his career with a .277 batting average, 266 homeruns and 1,178 runs batted in.

Wertz might be most well known as the player that hit the long fly ball to dead center of the Polo Grounds in the 1954 World Series. On this play, Willie Mays chased the ball to the 450 feet mark of the field to eventually make a fantastic play simply known as “The Catch”.

2008 NBA All-Star Game

Today, in Cleveland Sports History: 2.8

Nick Otte
Published: February 7, 2010Posted in: Browns, Cleveland Sports History, LBT, NewsTags:

BROWNS V BENGALS

On February 8, 1996, the NFL approved the relocation of the Cleveland Browns. To the dismay of the Cleveland faithful, it was decided that the Browns would be subject to a period of inactivity.

The Browns’ owner Art Modell made himself a city full of lifetime enemies as he packed up the team and moved them to Baltimore. To make matters worse, Cleveland fans had to watch Model and the Ravens won the Super Bowl just four years later.

There was a silver lining on this day, if you choose to see it. While it was decided that the Browns would be leaving Cleveland, the league also scheduled the franchise’s return for 1999. The Browns returned as scheduled three years later.

Today, In Cleveland Sports: 2.7

Aaron Green
Published: February 7, 2010Posted in: Cleveland Sports History, LBT, News, TribeTags: ,

Al Smith
On this date in 1928 a future All-Star outfielder for the Cleveland Indians was born. Al Smith was born in Kirkwood, Missouri 82 years ago. Smith played for the Indians from 1953-1957 and in the 1964 season. He was a member of the 1954 World Series team. Batting lead off for the team in ‘54, he led off the World Series with a solo home run.

Before signing with the Indians, Smith played in the Negro League for two seasons. As an Indian he had 648 hits and score 432 runs. He made the All-Star team in 1955.

Smith may be most remembered for a photograph taken of him while he was not a member of the Indians. Traded to the White Sox in December of ‘57, Smith played six seasons with Chicago. Most famously during his time in Chicago, Smith was photographed in the outfield taking a beer bath from a fan who was going for a home run ball (pictured above). It is a classic photograph.

Smith finished his career in 1964. He retired as a two time All-Star with a career .272 batting average.

Today In Cleveland Sports History: 2.6

Jason Kesner
Published: February 6, 2010Posted in: Browns, Cleveland Sports History, NewsTags:

Today 65 years ago, Donald Lee Cockroft, the former punter and placekicker for the Cleveland Browns was born. Cockroft played thirteen seasons in the National Football league with the Cleveland and posses the record for the second most points in a Browns Uniform behind kicker Lou Groza.

The kicker was drafted in the third round of the 1967 NFL draft after attending Adams State. In 1977 he officially dropped his role as a punter and became solely a place kicker. Cockroft was one of the two of the last NFL players to lead their team in both punting and kicking in the same season (1976) along with Tampa Bay Buccaneer kicker/punter Dave Green.

Oakland Raiders v Cleveland Browns

Today, In Cleveland Sports: 2.5

Aaron Green
Published: February 5, 2010Posted in: Browns, Cleveland Sports History, LBT, NewsTags: , ,

Bill Belichick With The Browns
On this day in 1991, “Darth Hoodie” came to Cleveland before he was known by such a moniker. Bill Belichik was hired as Cleveland Browns head coach on February 5, 1991. If only he would have been the Bill Belichik the NFL came to know 10 years later.

In 5 seasons as the Browns head honcho Belichik was 36-44. Following the 1995 season, Belichik resigned as the franchise’s head coach because of the move to Baltimore. Belichik never coached the Browns turned Ravens squad. He felt that Art Model was wrong for moving the team and no longer wanted to be a part of Modell’s franchise. As a Browns fan you have to love Belichik for sticking it to Modell. Modell deserved it after what he did to Cleveland.

Although Belichick is responsible for the Browns last playoff win in ‘94, he did not come close to having the same kind of success as he has had in New England. Perhaps it was the extra time he spent with Bill Parcells in New England and New York following his departure from Cleveland.

Today In Sports History 2.3.10: Earl Averill Enshrined

Nick Santucci
Published: February 3, 2010Posted in: Cleveland Sports History, LBT, TribeTags: ,

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On February 3rd, 1975, Cleveland Indians legend Earl Averill was elected to the baseball Hall of Fame along with Billy Herman and Bucky Harris. Averill played 12 major league seasons (1929-1941) and was a six-time All-Star. He is the Indians all-time leader in total bases, RBI’s, triples and runs. He is third all-time for the Tribe in hits and doubles and ranks fourth in homeruns and walks. He played for the team from 1929-1939 breaking in as a 27-year old. Averill had a career batting average of .318 with 238 homeruns and 1,164 RBI’s. He homered in his first career at-bat and had a career high .378 batting average in 1936. His number 3 is retired by the team.

Today, In Cleveland Sports: 2.2

Aaron Green
Published: February 2, 2010Posted in: Browns, Cleveland Sports History, LBT, NewsTags:

Cleveland Browns v San Diego Chargers
56 years ago, one of only two people to be drafted by the NFL, NBA and MLB was born in Fargo, North Dakota.  Dave Logan, who played receiver for the Browns from 1976-1983 turns 56 today.

In his time with the Browns, Logan caught 262 passes for 4247 yards and 24 touchdowns.  The Browns made the playoffs twice with Logan, in 1980 and 1982. In addition he helped quarterback Brian Sipe (pictured above) win the NFL MVP in 1980, catching four touchdowns and recording over 800 yards receiving.

Following his senior year of high school, Logan was drafted by the Cincinnatti Reds.  Deciding against the baseball route, he went to Colorado University and played basketball and football.  After graduating in 1976, Logan was drafted in the third round of the NFL draft by the Browns and the ninth round of the NBA draft by the Kansas City Kings. Logan chose the NFL and the rest is history.

The only other person to be drafted by the NFL, NBA and MLB was Dave Winfield, who was a member of the 1995 Cleveland Indians.

Today, In Cleveland Sports: 2.1

Nick Otte
Published: January 31, 2010Posted in: Cavs, Cleveland Sports History, LBTTags: ,

NBA: Trailblazers vs Mavericks JAN 30

There weren’t any significant events in Cleveland sports history on this day, but February 1st is the birthday of former Cavalier Robert “Bingo” Smith.

Bingo played 11 seasons in the NBA and ended up the most tenured Cavalier  of the 11 players drafted in Cleveland’s expansion draft in 1970. He played nine season in Cleveland and, to this day, remains in the top 10 of nine different statistical categories in Cavalier history.

Smith led the franchise to its first playoff appearance in 1976 and subsequentially its first playoff win. With Bingo, the Cavs won a first round series win over Washington before eventually losing to Boston in the Eastern Conference championship.

Bingo, a member of the University of Tulsa’s hall of fame, had his number 7 retired in Cleveland in 1979.

Today, In Cleveland Sports: 1.31

Aaron Green
Published: January 31, 2010Posted in: Cleveland Sports History, LBT, TribeTags:

PAN_ClevelandIndians_1923
On this day in 1977, former Cleveland Indian infielder Joe Sewell was elected into the baseball hall-of-fame.

Sewell is best known for what he did the least of. Striking out. Sewell holds the MLB record for lowest strikeout rate. He struck out once every 63 at-bats. In 7,132 at-bats he only struck out 114 times.

He also holds the record for most consecutive games without a strikeout (115) and fewest strikeouts in a single season (4). In the record setting season he had 503 official at-bats, meaning that he struck out less than 1% of the time.

In comparison, last year Diamondback Mark Reynolds set a major league record with 223 strikeouts in one season. He had 578 at-bats, meaning he struck out last year alone nearly 40% of the time.

Reynolds nearly doubled Sewell’s career strikeouts in one season. No wonder Joe Sewell is in Cooperstown.

Today, In Cleveland Sports: 1.29

Aaron Green
Published: January 29, 2010Posted in: Cavs, Cleveland Sports History, LBT, NewsTags:

00s-cavs-logo
30 years ago, today, the Cavaliers played what most consider their greatest regular season game in the history of the franchise. A 154-153 well earned victory over eventual 1980 NBA Champions Los Angeles Lakers.

The 154 points is still a record for most points scored by the Cavaliers in a game.

In a 4 OT thriller, the Cavs outlasted the Lakers for the victory in much part because of Mike Mitchell’s 34 points and the two free-throws he hit with two seconds remaining in the last overtime period.

Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabar were part of the Lakers squad, while members of the Cavs included Austin Carr and Campy Russell.

Believe it or not, the 4 OT’s is not the most OT’s in an NBA game.  The record is 6, in a 1951 game between the Indianapolis Olympians and Rochester Royals.

Today, In Cleveland Sports History: 1.26

Jason Kesner
Published: January 25, 2010Posted in: Cleveland Sports History, LBTTags:

george-kokinis
A year ago today, the Cleveland Browns signed former Ravens pro personal director George Kokinis as their General Manager.

Kokinis began his NFL career as an intern in the Browns’ operations department in 1991. He was handpicked by head coach Eric Mangini to obtain the distinguished position.

The newly inducted GM had a mediocre inaugural draft. He might be most well known for trading draft picks with the New York Jets to allow them to move up to their fifth draft position. The Jets selected their franchise quarterback Mark Sanchez with the pick and the rest is history.

But after a dismal 1-7 to the Browns 2009 season, he was prematurely dismissed as the General Manager.

Kokinis refused to resign when originally pressed by owner Randy Lerner. The team’s security and legal departments were reviewing phone records to build its case against Kokinis, a team source said.

Television station WKYC and the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Kokinis was ushered by security to leaves the premises.

Today, In Cleveland Sports: 1.25

Nick Otte
Published: January 24, 2010Posted in: Browns, Cleveland Sports History, LBTTags: ,

Pittsburgh Steelers v Kansas City Chiefs

On this day in 1924, legendary Cleveland Brown and Ohio State Buckeye Lou Groza was born. Groza played one season in Columbus before serving in the Army and, following his service, became a member of the Browns in 1946.

Although he was known primarily as a place kicker, he also played offensive tackle for the majority of his 21 year career as a professional football player. Groza spent every one of those 21 years in Cleveland and was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

Perhaps his biggest claim to fame, however, is the Lou Groza award. Since 1992, the award has been given in his honor every year to college football’s best place kicker.

Groza’s number 76 was retired in Cleveland and he remains one of the best players, not only in Browns history, but in the history of football.

Today, In Cleveland Sports: 1.24

Aaron Green
Published: January 24, 2010Posted in: Buckeyes, Cleveland Sports History, LBT, NewsTags: ,

2007 NCAA Final Four - Georgetown v OSU
Taking a trip outside of Cleveland today, we venture about 2 hours south to the city of Columbus. Columbus is home to The Ohio State University and Buckeye athletics.

On this day in 1987 the Buckeye basketball team had one of its proudest moments in its historic history.  Gary Williams, then head coach of the OSU team, led his squad to an 80-76 victory over #1 and previously unbeaten Iowa.  The win, in Iowa City, was the first and to this day only Buckeye victory over a #1 ranked team on the road.

Putting the entire Ohio State team on his back, forward Dennis Hopson scored 36 of the team’s 80 points and accounted for 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

All-time the Buckeyes are 8-10 versus the number one team in the country.  Lately though they have faired pretty well, winning six of their last eight meetings with number one.  The latest win coming against Wisconsin with Greg Oden and company in 2007.

Today in Cleveland Sports History: 1.23

Jason Kesner
Published: January 22, 2010Posted in: Browns, Cleveland Sports History, LBTTags:


On January 23, 1975, Cleveland Browns consistent kicker Phil Dawson was born. Coming out of the University of Texas in 1998, Dawson joined the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted placekicker. In that same year the kicker went to the New England Patriots before being signed by the Cleveland Browns in 1998.

Dawson was a second team All-Pro selection in 2007. His career field goal percentage is 83.3 and his career long field goal was 56 yards.

Today, In Cleveland Sports: 1.22

Aaron Green
Published: January 22, 2010Posted in: Cleveland Sports HistoryTags:

56804030
One game removed from his first career triple-double(three nights earlier at Portland), Lebron went out and did it again.  On January 22, 2005, Lebron scored 28 points 10 assists and 12 rebounds on his way to a second career triple-double.  In the game against Golden State the Cavs won 105-87, but Lebron was not the only Cavalier doing work.  All five starters scored in double figures; Drew Gooden 18, Z 18, Eric Snow 16 and Ira Newble 10 along with Lebron’s triple-double.  The win put the Cavs nine games above 500 at 24-15 for the season, the last season the Cavs did not make the playoffs.  They finished the year 42-40 tied with the Nets for the 8th seed but New Jersey held the tiebreaker over the Cavaliers.  Lebron finished the year with four triple-doubles in all.

Today, in Cleveland Sports History 1.21

Jason Kesner
Published: January 20, 2010Posted in: Cleveland Sports History, TribeTags:

Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood shooting a tsuanmi scene for the supernatural thriller Hereafter in Maui, Hawaii

On January 21 1889, Cleveland’s star first and second basemen Lewis Albert Fonseca was born. He was never known as a someone who hit the ball out of the ballpark, but he was a tremendous contact hitter that racked up impressive batting averages over his career.

He had a career best year with Cleveland when he hit .369 to win the American League batting title in 1929. After such a successful season, Fonseca broke his arm in 1930 and tore a ligament in his leg to prematurely end his 12-year career. The infielder also played for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago White Sox.

Fonseca was also known as one of the first men to use film in analyzing baseball games to find flaws in players. As a manager of the White Sox, he used film extensively to study his players.

Today, In Cleveland Sports: 1.19

Aaron Green
Published: January 19, 2010Posted in: Cavs, Cleveland Sports History, LBT, Lebron JamesTags:

LeBronChalkThumb
Today in 2005, Cavalier Lebron James recorded his first career triple-double.  In a
win at Portland, Lebron had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.  The Cavs won the game 107-101.

Since that inaugural triple-double, he has had 25 others, including two this season.  The latest being the OT win against Sacramento about a month ago.  Including playoff efforts, Lebron has 30 career triple-doubles.  Cleveland is 25-5 when Lebron has a triple-double (4-0 in the playoffs).

Oscar Robertson has the most career triple-doubles in regular season games with 181 while Magic Johnson has the most in the playoffs at 30.  Will Lebron get there? Those guys did it in 14 and 13 years of action, so Lebron still has time.  He will have to put up ridiculous numbers to do it, but I would never count the man out or say he can’t do something.  I’ll be rooting for him that’s for sure.

Today, In Cleveland Sports: 1.18

Nick Otte
Published: January 17, 2010Posted in: Cleveland Sports History, LBT, TribeTags: ,

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On this day in 1950, Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller made an unprecedented request to the team’s front office. Feller, who had posted a mediocre 15-14 record in the previous season, suggested that he take a pay cut and decrease his annual salary to $45,000 a year. The Indians obliged and gave Feller his requested $20,000 dollar pay cut.

Now living in an era in which teams are frequently faced with players demanding pay raises, but are hardly ever reimbursed the money they may owe an underachiever, it is almost impossible to imagine a player doing what Feller did in 1950.

The following season Feller rewarded the Indians with his 8th All-Star appearance. He raised the bar even higher the following season going 22-8 and finished 5th in the AL MVP voting.

Feller was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1962 and will forever be remembered as one of the best Cleveland Indians to ever play the game of baseball.

Today, In Cleveland Sports: 1.17

Aaron Green
Published: January 17, 2010Posted in: Browns, Cleveland Sports History, LBT, NewsTags:

Earnest Byner runs through a hole
“THE FUMBLE”

22 years ago today, the hearts of Brown’s fans everywhere fell out of the arms of Ernest Byner at the Denver 3 yard line.  Only a little more than a year removed from “The Drive”, the damn Broncos did it again.  This time it was not #7 (I refuse to mention him by name) leading a miraculous drive but a phantom fumble where Earnest Byner simply dropped the ball with a clear path to endzone and redemption in front of him.  Replay after replay, Brown’s fans tried to find an answer to why Byner dropped the ball.  Through the tears and the painful gut wrenching feeling in their stomach, they simply came to the conclusion that God is simply not a Browns fan.  The 38-33 defeat just added to the list of heartbreaks for the city that so desperately wants a title.  Hang in there Cleveland, someday a title will reside by the shores of Lake Erie, and when it does how sweet it will be.

Today, In Cleveland Sports: 1.15

Aaron Green
Published: January 15, 2010Posted in: Cleveland Sports History, LBTTags: , ,

Cleveland Browns v Baltimore Ravens
On this day in 1961, all-time Cleveland great Jim Brown played in his 5th Pro Bowl as the West beat the East 35-31.  Playing 9 seasons in the NFL, Jim Brown ran for over 12,000 yards and accounted for 106 rushing touchdowns.  Making the Pro Bowl in all 9 seasons that he played, Brown is considered one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.  In the 1961 season he averaged over 100 yards rushing a game and produced his 3rd highest total yards from scrimmage with 1,867 in his remarkable career.  When Brown retired following the 1965 season to pursue a career in Hollywood, he held the record for most career rushing yards at 12,312.  The record was his up until 1984 when Walter Payton became the league’s all-time leading rusher.  Elected into the Hall of Fame in 1971, many sports enthusiasts feel that Jim Brown is the single greatest player in league history and that if he had played for more than 9 seasons, the all-time rushing record would be not only his, but unbreakable.

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